One Of The World's Most Expensive Tourist Attractions Is A $2,800 Train Ride Through The British Countryside

Belmond's Murder Mystery Lunch takes place in authentic vintage rail cars built in the 1920s and '30s. These polished carriages — named Cygnus, Minerva, and Perseus — were part of the Golden Age Pullman service and featured at London's 1951 Festival of Britain. Today, each car still shows its original wood inlays, beveled-glass lamps, and hints of a royal past. That old-school elegance creates the perfect scene for an Agatha Christie–style mystery, making it one of Belmond's most special "creative signature adventures."

This level of luxury comes at a high cost. Belmond's booking site shows 2025 departures of the Murder Mystery Lunch at £585 to £670 per person for a table of two (about $792 to $907 each as of June 2025). A January 2025 feature in The Times still called it Britain's most expensive murder-mystery experience at £535 per person before adding any drinks. Travelers have been known to spend up to $1,400 per person for the experience all said and done — or $2,800 per couple. In short, the British Pullman's detective lunch combines old-world theater, fine dining, and historic rail cars. But only for travelers ready to pay luxury-train prices for a single afternoon. It might be expensive, but it is still not one of the tourist traps in Europe highlighted by Rick Steves.

Guests start at London Victoria with a glass of Champagne, then sink into cozy armchairs for an interactive 1930s-inspired murder mystery narrative. A group of actors moves through the car while Head Chef Jon Freeman serves a five-course meal with handpicked wines. Between courses, passengers question suspects, and jot down clues on a clue sheet.

Everything on this ride is set up so you can dive into both a great meal and a thrilling whodunnit. As you tuck into each course, you'll team up with other guests to track down the culprit before the train pulls into its final stop. All the while, Kent's rolling green hills and fields glide past the gleaming picture windows, giving you a front-row seat to the countryside as the mystery unfolds.

Besides the delicious food, fine wine, talented actors, and the passing Kent countryside, the ride's true charm lies in the authentic vintage details. The cabins feature original wood inlays, uniformed stewards, and gleaming brass fixtures that instantly transport you back to the 1920s. Every last touch — from the china patterns on your plate to the actors' period costumes — reinforces the feeling of stepping into a time capsule of old-school luxury travel.

Belmond keeps its Murder Mystery Lunch deliberately scarce. The train's fact-sheet shows just 11 Pullman carriages with a total capacity of 226 seats and the 2025 booking calendar lists just two departures for the Moving Murder Mystery in June; 20th and 27th. With so few dates on offer, annual attendance may remain in the low hundreds, which explains why tickets vanish months in advance despite its three- to four-figure price.

Passengers may see the three‐in‐one experience as a bargain. You board fully restored 1920s Pullman cars, each one carrying a semblance of British royalty. After a Champagne greeting, you settle in for a five‐course meal. Meanwhile, actors in period costumes move through the aisle, dropping clues for the day's murder mystery. Outside, Kent's meadows drift by the bevel‐glass windows.

You can dress in the 1920s style if you want, though it's not required. By mid‐afternoon, the mystery is solved, toasts are made, and you step off the train having packed a museum visit, a live show, and a gourmet dinner into one five‐hour trip from London Victoria. It's a whole day's worth of fun squeezed into one unforgettable ride.